Until a couple of years ago, hair loss or balding was mostly seen in older men. But today the problem has become increasingly common in younger men as well as women. 1 out of 2 people visiting my clinic for various skin problems also have associated hair loss. There are several types of hair loss. The two most common ones are pattern balding or androgenetic alopecia and stress-induced or telogen effluvium.
There are only two FDA-approved medications for controlling hair loss, namely Minoxidil and Finasteride. Side effects of these medications are well known and several patients search for alternative treatment options. In such a scenario, platelet-rich plasma or PRP therapy is becoming extremely popular as an effective and natural option for non-surgical hair restoration.
What is platelet rich plasma treatment or PRP treatment?
Our blood is composed of three types of cells. Red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. These cells are suspended in a liquid called plasma. If your blood is collected in a tube and spun at high speed then the red cells settle to the bottom of the tube, plasma floats on the top and the platelets and white cells form a layer in the centre. This central layer is called platelet-rich plasma. PRP contains more than 20 growth factors. Growth factors are the healing portion of your blood which are responsible for healing your body.
History of PRP therapy
Platelet-rich plasma therapy has been in use since the 1980s. It has mainly been used for healing injured tendons, ligaments, and muscles. The FDA has approved PRP for use on joints in orthopaedic indications.
The procedure of PRP treatment for hair loss
I have been performing PRP treatments for hair loss and skin rejuvenation for a decade now. Basically, platelet-rich plasma therapy for hair loss is a three-step medical treatment in which a person’s blood is drawn into a sterile tube, spun at high speed to separate the PRP and then injected into the scalp. The procedure is relatively painless and requires zero recovery time.
All you need to know about PRP Hair Treatment
All you need to know about Hair Loss Treatment
How does PRP therapy work?
Growth factors in the PRP injections trigger natural hair regrowth and maintain it by increasing blood supply to the hair follicle. Hair loss comes under control, new hair growth is visible and the existing hair becomes thicker and shinier.
How long does it take to see the results after PRP Treatment?
PRP treatment does not deliver results immediately, so you shouldn’t expect to see a full head of hair overnight. You will need three sessions at monthly intervals for the initial treatment. Yearly maintenance sessions are required in case of androgenetic alopecia or pattern baldness. Improvement is expected after every session.
Research behind PRP treatment
A study was conducted in 2014 which tested PRP on men with androgenetic alopecia who had not had success after six months of conventional medication. Visible improvement was seen in all these patients.
Another study was conducted in 2019 to compare PRP injections with conventional Minoxidil application treatment. At the end of 6 months, PRP therapy showed better results than Minoxidil application.
Few words of wisdom before you try PRP treatment for hair loss
PRP therapy is definitely here to stay due to its effectiveness and lack of side effects. The treatment is performed by dermatologists and plastic surgeons in a sterile clinic setting. Results depend directly on the method of PRP collection. Make sure you choose your treating doctor wisely for the best results.
This article was originally published as Platelet-rich plasma treatment for hair loss: Is PRP therapy effective and safe? on Times Now News.
Call 9930993600 to book your consultation with Dr Niketa Sonavane.
